Smoothest Boat?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1393
Printed Date: 15 Aug 25 at 9:10am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Smoothest Boat?
Posted By: Chew my RS
Subject: Smoothest Boat?
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 11:34am
|
What is the 'smoothest' dinghy you have had the pleasure of sailing. My definition of smooth? Easy motions, not sailing on a knife edge but, equally, not totally unresponsive to crew inputs. I consider the RS400 to be the smoothest dinghy I have sailed, but then I haven't sailed many.
P.S. Cats not included as this is the dinghy section and I think they are all smoother anyway! |
Replies:
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 11:39am
| Merlin Rocket. Of course, Phil Morrison designed a lot of those too at one time. |
Posted By: Bogg Inne
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 12:13pm
|
Tornado Classic ------------- If it ain't broke - break it |
Posted By: 5420
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 12:30pm
|
i think it is mostly down to hw sharp the bow is so the 200 400 vareo and 300 all qulafy from rs i have not sailed a merlin rockit but i can imagen it to be much the same and i have sailed a N12 and they are smooth to sail ------------- |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 12:36pm
Last time i looked i'm pretty sure a tornado had more than one hull.... As for smoothness the 505 has gotte be up there. Anything with a hull shape that clean and flowing has gotta be smoother than the proverbial babies bottom! ------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: NeilP
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 12:46pm
|
You're right Tim, 505 is very smooth indeed, but the FD has it beat, probably due to a bit of extra weight plus an extra 3 foot of length. Smoother than a mink-lined codpiece! In fact, the word smooth is not enough, need to add a few o's - smooooooth! Neil ------------- No FD? No Comment! |
Posted By: timnoyce
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 12:50pm
------------- http://www.facebook.com/bearfootdesign - BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb |
Posted By: Chew my RS
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 1:10pm
I don't think the 200 is that smooth - I find it much tippier than the 400 (but then I am on the big size for it) |
Posted By: sargesail
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 2:33pm
|
RS K6 absolutley lovely - or will I be shouted down for picking a keel boat! As a 300er sailor I have to say lovely - but probably not smooth in the sense meant here. |
Posted By: Offshoretiger
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 2:52pm
|
What NeilP said ------------- ...yesterday I couldnt spell enginner...now I are one!...... |
Posted By: Shingle
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 3:05pm
|
This more about ability, a well sailed 49er is smooth and stable if you know what you're doing. The 59er is a very serene experience, especially down wind. But if you mean can you sit on the side blob like when going upwind, I guess there's other boats. ------------- Drink Feck girls! |
Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 3:08pm
|
Evidently then, every single team I've seen sailing one have been incompetents. I'll believe they are fun, fast and challenging. But "smooth and stable", nah. |
Posted By: Chew my RS
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 3:13pm
|
Its not really about ability, it is inherent in the design. Boats are like cars, some have better Ride & Handling than others, it depends on the geometry. A good sailor makes all the difference though. Judging from the responses: big + heavy = smooth. |
Posted By: m_liddell
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 3:31pm
| The RS800 is the smoothest boat I've ever sailed to date. |
Posted By: Offshoretiger
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 3:35pm
Not sure about heavy but long water line probaly helps for what I think of as smooth. A lot of boats Ive sailed you really notice the power and acseleration kick in at certain points like when you hit the plane and you feel the boat lift off. With other boats your always waiting for the power to turn on and it never seems to, like trying to drive up hill with a trailer and never getting to the top. With the 5o and the FD its the kind of feeling that all this power is just there all the time, you never notice the point when it kicks in and your not always looking for the go button but then you look round and suddenly the rest of the world is
all the way back there somewere........ ------------- ...yesterday I couldnt spell enginner...now I are one!...... |
Posted By: Adds
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 4:03pm
|
Albacore!!! Especially in the light stuff.
------------- Cheers Dudes |
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 4:05pm
|
From my personal experience the 49er was the smoothest boat I ever owned, probably followed by the Graduate.
RS700,RS800, RS600, Int 14, Laser, 420, and Laser 2 were all much twitchier. Just ask Andy_Cherub, why he sold the 49er he bought off of me ! He didnt like the fact that it was so smooth (compared to his old Cherub) |
Posted By: Shingle
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 4:50pm
|
Well said obviously in a blow they become a hand full, essentially the water line of the 59er is very similar, but it doesn't have the speed to look quite as smooth upwind. Bethwaites hull shapes take some beating. ------------- Drink Feck girls! |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 5:00pm
you reckon? I was amazed how different the 59er was to the B14/29er/49er line when I saw one the first time. Rocker line and distribution and rise of floor at mid length look very different to me. |
Posted By: hurricane
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 5:49pm
|
A class is meant to be one of the smoothes boats!!! ------------- lifes to short to sail slow boats! RIP Olympic Tornado 1976-2007 |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 5:49pm
|
Albacore hands down ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: tgruitt
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 6:03pm
|
merlin hands down
------------- Needs to sail more... |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 6:14pm
|
Good man.
------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 6:14pm
OPTIMIST HANDS DOWN!!!!!!!!  ------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 6:16pm
|
What. I take it you havent sail anything else. ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Wave Rider
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 7:45pm
|
In light winds i think probably a Firefly, they have always seemed good to me. From a hull perspective, you would expect something very long with a fairly small rig to be the smoothest (Don't bring up the 18 footer, i said SENSIBLE rig size :P). I think the Merlin Rocket is very smoooth to sail as it slices through the waves. ------------- -[Franko]- Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club RS600 933 |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 7:49pm
|
The alb is also smooth through waves and is quite big so in light winds you dont find yourself stuffed into a small uncomfortable postion. ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 8:09pm
|
Has to be a Mirror - smooth as a ... ------------- |
Posted By: a_stevo
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 10:06pm
|
NS14 bit like the national 12's you have in the Uk, but much much nicer. |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 10:17pm
|
They look really nice! Are they only sailed in Aus? ------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 19 Jan 06 at 10:59pm
| I'd say the osprey, only sailed it a couple times but it just seemed to glide effortlessly. |
Posted By: TeamFugu
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 12:47am
|
E scows are sooo smoooth. Scary as hell when they overtake you in light air. ------------- Live large, love life, and sail fast. Swift Sol Home, http://swiftsolo.com |
Posted By: Tornado_ALIVE
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 4:02am
|
My vote goes to NS14 This thread excludes cats, however I will say the smoothest boats I have sailed would have to be Classic Rigger Tornado followed by the A Class, Taipan 4.9 then Taipan 5.7 ------------- 
http://www.formula18alive.com - www.formula18alive.com |
Posted By: Blobby
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 5:36am
|
Blade F16 was very smooth when I had a ride on it - but then again so was the water. 29er is smooth when you get into the groove but when you get out of synch it definitely isn't! |
Posted By: Chew my RS
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 8:27am
|
I like the look of the NS14 - have any bar staff in London imported one?
|
Posted By: a_stevo
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 8:45am
|
they have only got as far as NZ and USA internationally. as far as i know that is... |
Posted By: Living in a box
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 8:56am
| I love the 200, and have done most of my competitive sailing in one, but I took the helm of a 400 sailing in from racing after crewing for a mate at an event and was amazed at how light and smooth it was - much more so than the 2. |
Posted By: Chew my RS
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 9:02am
|
I totally agree, I had a 200 for about 3 years and loved it. Then I crewed a 400 a few times and was astonished to find it actually seemed easier to sail. |
Posted By: Bogg Inne
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 12:36pm
So its a Tornado Classic or pistols at dawn (sorry dawn !) ------------- If it ain't broke - break it |
Posted By: ssailor
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 2:11pm
got to be the 400, or 29er when sailed properly! although a int14 with
a hydrofoil in light to medium winds in very nice upwind! 
------------- Any one in need of quality carbon fibre work (tillers etc) at decent prices! Int 14 Gbr 1244 'Nucking Futs' The New Port rule!!. |
Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 2:46pm
|
Merlin Rocket ------------- |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 2:48pm
|
I still say the Alb nice and roomy and quick. Still think the bar stool is the best place to be ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 4:14pm
|
I'll give you nice and roomy ... but quick; I don't think so. Rick ------------- |
Posted By: olly_love
Date Posted: 20 Jan 06 at 4:30pm
|
the buzz is a smooth boat one of the easiest to sail downwind in a blow. very underrated boat. i sailed one with a 6.5 stone 11 year old crew and won deben week. even beat the 400s on the water which we couldnt believe. lovely boat and smooth. oh and got to be the 14 as the smoothest with the foil they glide up wind
------------- TWO FRANK-Hunter Impala |
Posted By: BBSCFaithfull
Date Posted: 21 Jan 06 at 9:53am
|
The reason the buzz is so underrated is because its so bad that no one can even be bothered to talk about it!
------------- Greatfully Sponsored By www.allgoodfun.com Int 14 GBR 1503!! |
Posted By: Olly4088
Date Posted: 21 Jan 06 at 5:40pm
Well not compare to somethings but for its size it is quite quick ------------- Phantom 1298 |
Posted By: Ian99
Date Posted: 21 Jan 06 at 6:06pm
Try sailing one downwind wind against tide in a 5-6, and it is anything but smooth Any boat which dances around on the back 6 inches of the hull when planing can't be smooth as it's jumping around all over the place up and down the waves. Doesn't stop it being either fun or fast though.... Smooth boats have to be long and thin, with a fine bow entry - the FD fits this pretty well, as does the Javelin. |
Posted By: olly_love
Date Posted: 22 Jan 06 at 11:44pm
the buzz is really nice to sail it just gets in a grove easily. i have raced them loads and they are a good boat so dont knock it . Why does an older boat have to be a better smoother one new designs in theory should be better------------- TWO FRANK-Hunter Impala |